Swinging to the '60s at the Frisco's community center

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Stylish senior citizen and Summit County local Bonnie Guthrie loves to dance. In fact, she’s been on “American Bandstand” twice.

Guthrie and her friends will show the community how to twist, whirl and boogie down at the Summit County Community and Senior Center in Frisco next Thursday during a get-together for a good cause.

The dance floor will be hopping as local musicians Carol and David Wedgwood, of Mountain Breeze Music, and Denny Foley, aka “Doo Wop Denny,” play during a potluck party that doubles as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District.

“It’s all about getting together and socializing and having fun,” said FDRD programs manager Sarah Slaton.

Funds raised at this event will help pay the costs of planning and performing work on forest service trails adopted by Summit County Seniors and the Summit Mountain Biking group in 2013.

“The seniors have five hiking groups, two snowshoe groups and a backcountry ski group,” Guthrie said. “We use these trails ­— so it’s payback.”

Plus, it’s a good excuse for community members to get together and have a good time.

“The ’50s and ’60s are our music. That’s what we grew up with,” she said. “We love to dance.”

The fundraiser has been held for four years and always has sold out quickly. FDRD’s Slaton said that during the first year she attended the fundraiser she got to know her volunteers on a whole new level.

“During my first year I was leading all these people in the field that I didn’t really know personally,” she said. “It’s fun to see them in a totally different capacity.”

Plus, she got to learn some new moves on the dance floor.

“They will take you out there and swing you around,” she said.

Participants are asked to bring a potluck dish to share. The event is also BYOB.

Organizers say the potluck provides a good mix of snacks, including meatballs, pasta and other favorites.

“I think I’m going to bring deviled eggs,” Guthrie said.

“The dessert is always great too,” Slaton said.

Slaton said the event is “the best kind of fundraiser” for FDRD, because it doesn’t cost them money or take up staff hours for preparation. The event has also contributed more than $2,000 to the organization in the past. The funds are unrestricted, so the organization can use them for the less glamorous, but integral, costs the nonprofit FDRD accumulates over the year — like office supplies, gas money and vehicle insurance.

The event can also serve as a bonding experience for volunteers in a different kind of atmosphere, Slaton said.

“In my eyes it’s an awesome opportunity for volunteers to get together and hang out and socialize instead of swinging tools.”